Being "hearing impaired" can sometimes feel as a punishment from hell. I do not exaggerate and I can totally understand if your first instinct is to say that you'd take that over say..burning in endless scolding hot lava. Yes. it does sound more comfortable but the effects can be more perverse and long lasting ( maybe not compared to eternity..).
You see, the most misunderstood thing about being hearing impaired is that when you can not hear, you are actually silenced. It sounds a bit counter intuitive again - deaf people talk loud, right?! - but that's how it is. Try to focus on your conversations for a bit, really try to deconstruct the flow of a good conversation, especially if it involved more than one persons. You will notice how the subject changes fast and you react immediately to what a new person bring to the discussion. In a way, that becomes "known" and used for future reference in that particular conversation and even in the future. "Hey! Remember that Anne told us last week that..."
So now imagine you can't hear half o that or you mishear. Slowly but surely you start to lose the flow and you can only rejoin on a "high" when someone makes something clear, a conclusion that you take for ganted without knowing all the facts..which means that you can not argue against it properly, so you better shut up. You smile, you say ok, good, well maybe who knows yes. You become transparent, slow, a watered down version of yourself and more and more into your head. That's where the real life happens.
And almost no matter what, no one can help you.
I was walking with a friend of mine and a few other people just last week to a party. He had broke his leg last summer and he is still recovering from this. He walks a little slowly so everyone adapted by walking slowly as well. At one point, he misstep and almost fell. Everyone jumped to help:
"Are you alright man?".
"Let me help!".
We helped him a bit and everything was alright. He's a great guy. We got to the party in time and helped get up the stairs. I was the last one in line.
This brings a very important message across and it is indeed educational. Feel free to use the steemiteducation tag when writing something educational as articles like this one should not be missed.
good..
people focus on how you say it, not what you said. big difference.
It is incredibly important that people learn about this perspective. It is impossible for a person with typical hearing to know how a person with a "hearing impairment" feels. Your describing it helps.
I am submitting this post to the @steemiteducation team. I would LOVE to see a follow up piece explaining little things that people can do to make it easier for their friends, coworkers, loved ones and strangers who have a hearing impairment. Should we make sure you can see our lips? Is it better to stand on one side or the other? Does talking louder help or does it cause a "buzzing" sensation (that happens to one of my students)?
hey! thanks a lot. I write these in part to educate people in case they deal with hearing impaired persons in their life but also for myself...a lot of our pain is invisible and the wounds can be hard to treat and writing helps. And also thank you because I know you care deeply about this given the kind of students you work with and probably you've encounter and accommodate more, worst impairments than this - hope I don't come off as a crybaby!
As for the a general quick tip: Just trytin to pay attention that the person you talk to actually follows you and asking: hey, is better if I speak clearer [ louder usually doesn't help], it's ok if we go there where the music is not as loud, etc. Just making it feel OK to impose a bit on you. Imho that can make a huge difference.
I will write a few follow-ups and forward them to you when I do :)
True bro. Today is that kind of day to me...
i am deaf, too. and i dont pity myself. It never stopped me from making new friends, reach my goals or be part of conversation. Grow up ;)
Edit: seriously, it IS NOT A BIG DEAL. stop making it like your life revolves around impaired hearing
Really? What's your secret? Define "deaf".
Imho is totally unrealistic to act like you are not impaired when you are, it;s all about dealing with it.
That being said, I guess each person has its own way to do go about this, saying stuff like "grow up!" especially when it comes to smth you can not control is kind of silly. I guess in line with the Albanian way of doing stuff..
Glad to see you are still around :D
i have always been around :D dont you see my upvote? lol.